Kosuke Kimura was back on the Rapids backline Saturday against Sporting K.C. -- and he scored.

This installment of Rapids player ratings come courtesy of Craig de Aragon, a longtime Rapids fan, committee member with the Class VI supporters group and current Rapids correspondent on the “Around The League” show on the Champions Soccer Radio Network:

I spent Saturday morning sitting in a classroom learning how to do CPR and First Aid. After giving up two goals to Sporting Kansas City in the first 14 minutes of the game, I thought I was going to have to use my newly acquired skills to revive the fledgling, flat-lining Rapids team.

Fortunately, that was unnecessary, as the make-shift backline was able to figure things out. They not only held Sporting Kansas City scoreless for the rest of the game, but they scored both goals to give the Rapids a much needed draw and point.

Without regular starters Omar Cummings, Marvell Wynne, Pablo Mastroeni and Brian Mullan, Rapids coach Oscar Pareja gave us much to discuss with his curious starting line up decisions.

Matt Pickens (GK) – 5
This was a rare occasion this season when Pickens wasn’t at the highest form. I wonder if it was based on fatigue from playing every league game so far, or if the wet conditions had something to do with it. The first goal he had no real chance to stop, but the second one went through his hands into the waiting arms of Teal Bunbury, who put it away.

Kosuke Kimura (DF) – 5
He and Marshall were the two worst defenders on the night — but they also were the same pair that scored two goals. Kimura got the start in the right back competition this week and I can’t say that he suppressed any doubt that the position should be up for grabs. The goal allowed, in the first minute of the game, was a cross into the box by Kimura’s man. That error combined with his game tying tap-in goal scored, gives him a score of average.

Tyrone Marshall (DF) – 4
Bless his heart. He means well. He was once a good MLS quality center back. He is not any more. He was consistently beaten by the speed of Sporting, whiffed on a headed clearance on the first goal, and his man scored the second goal on a pseudo set piece (long throw-in). This is one of those curious decisions that Pareja made that should be questioned. What in the DC game did Pareja see in Marshall that gave him the start in this game? What does it say for the depth of our center back position that Marshall is the only option that Pareja feels comfortable playing? I wonder if the re-signing of Omar Cummings to a long term deal is to make it easier to trade him for defensive depth.

Drew Moor (DF) – 6
Rapids fans must be thinking: “Please don’t get hurt Drew. Please!” He is keeping the re-done back line together. He rallied the troops and helped seal off Sporting after it looked like they would score 10 on the day. He was not without his faults however — he was beat by Kamara on an overhead ball that created an open chance.

Edu, left, looked more comfortable on the ball in his second game with the Rapids.

Hunter Freeman (DF) – 5
This is the first time we’ve seen anyone other than Luis Zapata at left back the entire season. Why? I’m not really sure. Zapata had his struggles against DC United, but who didn’t? Other than that, Zapata has been one of the more solid players on this club this season. Freeman had a decent day, didn’t really notice him much, which isn’t a bad thing. This replacement felt like change for change sake.

Wells Thompson (MF) – 4
This was the most curious of the curious decisions on the day by Pareja. With a scuffling offense, why replace the injured Brian Mullan with Thompson over a more offensively adept Kamani Hill? Thompson didn’t do anything egregiously wrong, just felt like the wrong player on the field. He did his normal thing of hustling, running and tackling, but didn’t provide much of anything to the offensive third.

Jeff Larentowicz (MF) – 6
Finally starting to look like himself in the past few games. He did a good job doing what he does, breaking up plays, destroying KC momentum, and adding heart to the club. His trademark bomb of a free kick is what led to the game-tying goal.

Jaime Castrillon (MF) – 4
He struggled. He was bottled up in the middle third and wasn’t really linking up with the forwards. His lone highlight on the night came late when his sliding through-ball to Edu set up a chance to win the game on the header by Rivero. The hope was that he would be more of an offensive player and the combo of he and Rivero would take over the town with attack-minded, goal-scoring soccer. That hasn’t happened yet. With much more season to come, there’s hope he becomes the player that Pareja had on the top of his list to sign when he got the job.

Martin Rivero (MF) – 6
He continues to perplex. He shows how good he can be on one play and the next you realize that he’s still a 22-year-old and makes mistakes you expect a young player to make. The encouraging part is that you didn’t see many of those on the night. But Sporting Kansas City made it tough on him to provide much offensively. It wasn’t until the last 30 minutes (when Hill, and later Edu, came on) that Rivero really started to find room. He could have won the game for the Rapids in the 86th minute but his headed effort was saved.

Tony Cascio (FW) – 4
Cascio has yet to find consistency. He is either really confident and aggressive, or he blends in and isn’t really a factor in the game. This was a game where at times you wouldn’t know he was on the field.

Conor Casey (FW) – 6
He is rusty no doubt, as evident on the breakaway that was chipped and easily saved by Sporting keeper Jimmy Nielsen. A full-form, mid-season Casey would have taken one more stride and buried that low and far post for a goal. He was aggressive, big, strong and all the things that we’ve missed about him. He didn’t score, but it feels like it’s just a game away from breaking open for him.

Edu (SUB) – 6
He’s starting to show his value in a limited role off the bench. He looked comfortable on the ball and making runs after coming on for a spent Conor Casey. I wonder how long before he pushes someone, perhaps Cascio or Castrillon (if he has the legs to play MF) for starters minutes.

Kamani Hill (SUB) – 6
The Rapids instantly looked more dangerous offensively when Hill stepped onto the field. The trio of Hill, Edu and Rivero looked very dangerous in their limited time together and almost were able to steal all 3 points from Sporting. With him in the starting 11 we may have been talking about a win rather than a draw.

Luis Zapata (SUB) – INC
Not enough time on the field to give him a score, but interestingly when he came on for Tony Cascio he looked to be playing left wing in front of Freeman. It was weird seeing him up that high on the field. With the aforementioned Freeman getting the start at left back I wonder if Zapata playing left winger is something we’ll see more of in the future.